There’s some wild news brewing at ESPN that’s got everyone talking. Word on the street is that layoffs might be looming, just as Stephen A. Smith inks a jaw-dropping five-year, $100 million deal with the network. That’s right-$20 million a year for the First Take loudmouth, a figure that’s turning heads because it outpaces what some NFL superstars like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Christian McCaffrey are pulling in.
Stephen A. Smith’s new contract, reported by The Athletic, cements him as ESPN’s first $100 million talent. He’s not just yelling about hoops and gridiron anymore-he’s expanding into NFL coverage and even politics.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s been trimming fat, cutting names like Robert Griffin III and Samantha Ponder in 2024 after a 2023 layoff wave. “They’re betting big on Stephen A. to carry the brand,” a media insider speculated, suggesting his star power justifies the cash splash. But $20 million a year? That’s more than some of the NFL’s top dogs.
Take Saquon Barkley-he just signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension with the Eagles, averaging $20.6 million annually. Derrick Henry‘s grinding it out with the Ravens on a two-year, $16 million deal (up to $20 million with incentives), clocking in at $8 million a year base. Even Christian McCaffrey, the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year, pulls $19 million annually with the 49ers. Smith’s out-earning Henry outright and nipping at Barkley and McCaffrey’s heels-all without breaking a sweat on the field.
How is this possible?
Smith’s a ratings magnet-First Take averages over 1.5 million viewers daily, and his YouTube rants rack up millions more. NFL stars make their dough through team salaries, endorsements, and bonuses, but their pay’s capped by league structures and collective bargaining. Smith’s deal? Pure market demand.
“He’s a one-man media empire,” an ESPN source told Variety, highlighting how his brand transcends sports. Barkley might bulldoze defenders, and Henry might steamroll linebackers, but Smith’s commanding a global audience-no cleats required.
Still, it’s wild to think a pundit’s payday could eclipse players who risk it all every Sunday. With ESPN reportedly tightening its belt, how do they justify this while axing others? Is Smith’s megaphone worth more than McCaffrey’s versatility or Henry’s bruising runs? The numbers say yes-but it’s a head-tilt moment for sure.
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